UPHA/American Royal - Thursday Matinee
Thursday, November 15, 2012

After the two sections of the UPHA Senior Challenge Cup Finals Phase I, it was an 11:00 start time for the Thursday matinee. The AHHS Youth Medallion Road Pony Under Saddle class was the lead event, with Perfect Offering making the winning show with Mitchell Tunstall up for Gaeton Lorino. Part of the Majestic Oaks team, Perfect Offering was the Reserve National Champion with Mitchell in the AHHS Youth Medallion Road Pony Under Saddle Finals just last month. Kinslie Dougherty rode to reserve aboard Regal’s Double Trouble LF. This team was top three in the National Finals here a year ago, when the Youth Medallion Finals were held at the Royal.

It was three years in a row for CH Callaway’s Cumulus to win the Country Pleasure Driving qualifier for Susan Aschenbrenner and trainer Amanda Simpson. The two-time defending National Champion has also won her Louisville qualifier the past two years. A powerhouse in this division, Cumulus is by Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Callaway’s Cloud Nine. Certainly one of the most successful purchases from the Callaway Hills consignments at the late TSE/Tattersalls sales, Cumulus has had a remarkably brilliant career, and he’s just eight years old. CH Conway has been a star in his new division this season, earning a reserve prize here to go with his Reserve World’s Championship performance in his qualifier. Mike Bletsoe has done the driving all season long for McDonald LLC and Lance Hayes Stables. The high-headed star has been a winner in this ring before, taking the Ladies Three-Gaited National Championship in 2009 with Sara McDonald.

Reserve in his Amateur Roadster to Bike qualifier the other day, Iamnotacow was the Roadster Under Saddle winner today in a rollicking affair. Rebekah Cloninger rode him to two wins at ASHAV for owner Debra Clark and Jon Walker Stables. She continued that winning streak today with another blue ribbon ride. John and Erin Fann will have to fit Rebekah with a CowCam like they did Debra earlier this year to give that perspective next! Belle Starr made her under saddle debut for the red ribbon, with Lukens Stables assistant Samantha Hegstrom up for Charlie Jones. Belle Starr was the Roadster to Bike Mare World’s Champion this year with Charlie at the lines.

Just Heavenly gets better and better with age, warming to her job as she goes. The black daughter of CF First Night Out and CH Reedann’s Phinery has teamed up well with Maya Manilow this season under the Skyline Stables banner. They earned a Reserve World’s Championship in their qualifier and topped the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure class today for Barbara Goodman Manilow. Abby Mutrux got the catch ride aboard Count The Money to earn reserve. This junior horse is owned by Jack Boos and trained by Jim Lowry. The chestnut gelding is by Champagne’s Show Time and out of Melody Cascade. Show Time is a son of Champagne Fizz and a Flight Time mare. Drew Taylor Hewitt also made a catch ride aboard No Fear to place third for Doris Crumpler and Silver Brook Stables. Marjorie Townsend and Here I Am Again were fourth for Ever Glades Farm.

Toni Nastali got another Royal blue, this time in the Ladies Western Country Pleasure class aboard All Star Design. In just their second season together, they made perhaps their best show yet to claim the top prize in a deep group of western horses. Carol Matton trains this one at Knollwood Farms. Winner of the Open qualifier on Tuesday, CH Dark Fantasia was reserve, having won this event a year ago. He would go on to claim the Championship tri-color in 2011 with owner and rider Michelle Beyer. Dark Fantasia is by Unlisted and out of She’s A Success.

In the 13-and-Under Country Pleasure class, a third Rowland grandchild rode the Ever Glades Farm favorite Callaway’s Winning Number to an American Royal win. Wil Rowland is a dashing young gent aboard a horse. He was a World’s Champion in the 13-and-Under division earlier this year, a class that Alice Rowland won the previous two years aboard this very same gorgeous, flaxen gelding. Reserve honors went to Ally Offerdahl and The Devil You Say, fresh off their Championship win in Central Missouri at the Boone County Fair. Devil You Say is by Harlem’s Friendly Conversation and out of a Merchant Prince mare.

Trust Company stepped up to the top spot in the Mo/Kan Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Championship with Madison Pope riding for mom and trainer Lisa Hillmer. By Trust Fund and out of a CH Caramac mare, Trust Company was the Junior Exhibitor Reserve Champion at St. Louis as just a five-year-old. Clara’s Prince also made a good return trip to the ring to move up to the Reserve Championship with Laurel Silcott up for Ever Glades Farm. This one is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of a Champagne Fizz mare.

The Adult section of the Mo/Kan Show Pleasure Championship followed straight away, with Valerie Boelsen and Brush Creek’s Eastwood making their second victory pass of the week. By Reedann’s Phire One, Eastwood is out of a Periaptor mare. They were Amateur Park Pleasure Champions the past two seasons at St. Louis. Elizabeth Clark has been good all year long with Gingerbread Baby. An entry of Alan and Kelly Clark, Gingerbread Baby was a winner in the split Championship here earlier this year at UPHA Chapter 5. They also teamed up for the tri-color at Boone County Fair, earning the Reserve Championship here today.

The AHHS Road Pony Medallion class was split into a 13-and-Under and 14-17 division, with the 13-and-Under blue going back to Majestic Oaks with Heartland Fire And Rain and Catherine Wheeler. Sister Sallie Mason was at the lines for two winning drives at ASHAV with the entry of Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. This one is being groomed to be the permanent partner of Sallie the spitfire. One of the greatest this division has ever seen, CH Cappuccino was reserve with Ashley Creekmore at the lines for Thomas R. Brock Jr. and Hollow Haven Farm. Last year’s 13-and-Under Road Pony Medallion National Champion was a 13-and-Under World’s Champion this season. They earned the reserve prize today.

Debra Hurst has been at the lines of many a top horse, winning her first American Royal blue today with Catalytic. Martin Cockriel headed up his entry, sporting his UPHA Hall of Fame blazer. This was one of the best performances of the brilliant chestnut gelding’s career and his very first with Debra Hurst at the lines. A son of Catalyst and a Sultan’s Santana mare, Catalytic has been consistently in the top prizes at every show he has been to. Trained by Michael Beasom, Stonecroft All That Jazz was reserve with Bill Been at the lines for Joanna and Bill Been. All That Jazz has already won nine times on the season. He is out of a Foxfire’s Prophet mare and by I’m A New Yorker.

It was a somber moment in the Three-Gaited Pony class, as a pall was cast over the proceedings with the passing of the grand mare, CH The Attache Orchid. The details of her passing have been well documented in this day of social media and instant news, but those who ever saw her show will remember her as one of the truly greats. She won her first World’s Championship in 2006 with Holly Wilson. A year later, she teamed with Hunter Chancellor and went into the record books. She will take her place in the pantheon of the greatest walk-trot ponies like Lady Oracle. Her show record alone will stand the test of time. She amassed eight World’s Championship wins and five Reserve World’s Championships. This final victory pass marked the seventh win for the incomparable little daughter of Attache’s Thunderbolt and The Irish Orchid on these green shavings of Kemper Arena. Hunter Chancellor and the DeLovely team will forever remember her fondly, as will we all.

The first split of Show Pleasure Driving went to two bays, with CH Irresistible Design returning to a ring she loves so well. Elizabeth James Lipscomb drove to a Reserve National Championship here a year ago. This beautiful duo have a World’s Championship and three Reserve World’s Championships to their credit in their past two trips to Louisville. Irresistible Design was the UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Champion here in 2010. She is by Designed and out of I’m Irresistible Too. Sarah Wise continued her incredible season with Gypsy Gentleman, coming off a six-class winning streak to pick up the red prize here, directed by Matt Schuckert. He is obviously by Gypsy Santana . This one is also out of a Foxfire’s Prophet mare, as the previous harness reserve winner was. Debra Hurst returned after a one-class break to show Front Row Frankie to third for Martin Cockriel.

The veteran performer Highpoint’s Grandee was the winner in 14-17 Country Pleasure, as John Whalen joined Vanessa Patch in the winner’s circle. Champions at J.D. Massey, Asheville, and Roanoke, this team has been a strong contender all season long, earning a top three prize in Freedom Hall. With two top three prizes on their Louisville resume from this year, Star Sighting and Erin Rae Beever were reserve today for Lowry Stables. This dark bay with plenty of white is by Con Heir and out of Beat The Odds, the dam of CH His Supreme Reflection.

The last time Rose Marie Wheeler left the ring with anything but the blue prize in a Hackney Pleasure Driving class was Louisville 2009. Seriously. And she has shown in the division extensively! The past two seasons she has been the Junior Exhibitor Hackney Pleasure Driving World’s Champion of Champions and the AHHS Hackney Pleasure Driving Medallion National Champion with Nashville Cat. Today, it was Boxford Moment To Remember teaming with the stellar young driver for Thomas Caisse and the Majestic Oaks banner. Moment To Remember scored a top three against the adult competition at Louisville with Rose Marie’s mom, Linda Fischer. One of the most highly decorated ponies this division has ever known, Pacifico’s Standing Ovation made another in a long line of great shows for the Brown-Anderson Farms and Hollow Haven. Standing Ovation has now shown with Hollow Haven for over 10 years, moving from World’s Championships with the late Bob Anderson to great shows with his grandson, Zach Meyer. Zach was ultra-serious as always at the lines, putting in a workmanlike drive for reserve. These two were Reserve National Champions in the Hackney Pleasure Driving Medallion Finals last month in Springfield, Illinois.

The Red Hot Kid and Robert Gardiner wrapped up an undefeated week with the Mo/Kan Three-Gaited Park Championship, their fourth straight win for High Spirits Farm. Out of a Sultan’s Royalty mare, Red Hot Kid is by VHF The Licorice Drop Kid. The top two here were also the top two in both the qualifier and both of their St. Louis classes, as Good Fellows Park was reserve with Bob Brison up for Bob and Tonya Brison. Bob was a World’s Champion with this one in 2010 as a Junior Five-Gaited horse.

Section Two of the Show Pleasure Driving qualifier went to reigning National Champion and two-time defending World’s Champion of Champions, A Cinderella Story. Karrie Graham has been picture perfect at the lines of this beautiful chestnut daughter of Gypsy Santana for she and husband Dwaine Kinderknecht. The Lowry Stables team should be quite proud of this team, as they have been a force to be reckoned with over these past four seasons. Cindy Kolmeier won her split of the qualifier here a year ago, settling for second today with Spend The Night. Trained by Steve and May Chadick, Spend The Night is by CF First Night Out and out of Fancy Bloomer, by The Blythe Spirit.

It was a debut performance in a new division for the great CH Sprinkles, as she and Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes continued their storybook run together now in the Five-Gaited Pony division. Famously the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited National Champion here in 2010 in a stunning show, Sprinkles is always bright and happy when she hits the ring for the Rainbow Princess Farms. The DeLovely team cheered her on in her new undertaking. Austin Hazelwood piloted CH Billy Jewel to the reserve honors for Clara McCool and Cater Stables. Twice a winner at both Bonnie Blue and Lexington, Billy Jewel has long been one of the best this division has ever seen. By Family Jewels, he has collected five World’s Championships and a Reserve World’s Championship in his remarkable career.

Alex Ververeli has won a class here at the Royal with CH Heartland Victory Maker every year they have shown together, encompassing four different campaigns. Today, they finished off the afternoon session with a blue ribbon drive in the AHHS 14-17 Road Pony Medallion for Kathleen and Alex Ververeli and Kierson Farm. They were the 13-and-Under Road Pony Medallion National Champions in 2009 and 2010. Cheyenne Mabey has done some great work with Boogity Boogity this season, including capturing the AHHS 14-17 Road Pony Medallion National Championship just last month. Showing for Ashlyn Farms, Cheyenne earned the red prize for the Majestic Oaks banner.

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